CUK holds anti-drug addiction awareness prog

Ganderbal, Sept 28: To spread awareness against the drug abuse, the Department of Students Welfare (DSW) and Health Centre, Central University of Kashmir (CUK) in collaboration with Chief Medical Officer, Ganderbal and with the support of IMHANS-K, Radio Chinar, 90.4 FM, and Guide the Professionals (GTP) organised an anti-drug awareness programme under the banner Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) at varsity’s Green Campus here on Wednesday.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Farooq Ahmad Shah, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, Finance Officer and Dean DSW, Dr Mehraj ud Din Shah, DSP, Ganderbal, Mr. Ghulam Hassan, Dy CMO, Ganderbal, Dr. Nighat Yasmeen, Consultant IMHANS, Dr. Sajid Muhammad Wani, Dr. Omer Jan from DH Ganderbal, Principal, Dar ul Uloom Ganderbal, Mr. Mufti Aamir Suhail, Clinical Psychologist, Ms Afshana, Nodal Officer, DH Ganderbal, Dr. Suhail, CEO, GTP, Ms. Saba Bhat, faculty members, senior functionaries and students of the varsity were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Farooq Ahmad Shah, said the rampant drug abuse, especially among the youngsters, is a matter of grave concern and needs immediate attention from the senior government functionaries, law enforcement agencies, educationists, and the citizenry. “The drug addiction has a detrimental impact not only on the health of individuals, but also on the social fabric,” he said adding the need of the hour is to take drastic and immediate measures to curb the spread of drug addiction in the Valley.
Addressing the gathering, Registrar, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, said that those involved in the drug addiction need hand holding from all doctors, counsellors and their respective families. “Those involved in the drug abuse should not be stigmatised. They need care and support from the society and their families to come out of the menace,” Prof. Zargar said. He asked the participants to create awareness about the ill effects of drug abuse, especially among the youth so that Kashmir could become drug free.
DSP Ganderbal, Mr. Ghulam Hassan highlighted how victims fall prey to the drug menace and the measures taken by police to deal with it. He asked the students to provide information about drug peddlers so that stringent action could be taken against them.
Finance Officer and Dean DSW, Dr. Mehraj ud Din Shah in his address, said there has been an ever-increasing number of people seeking de-addiction treatment in Kashmir. “The menace is spreading among youth like wildfire and it has become imperative to control it before it’s too late,” he said.